Washington (CNN) - After weeks of talking past each other, congressional leaders and President Barack Obama talked to each other Wednesday evening - only to emerge evidently no closer to a deal to halt the government's budget stalemate.

The White House meeting, coming a day after the start of the federal government shutdown, served at least one purpose, in that key players in the debate gathered together in the same room for over an hour: Obama called it "useful," House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said it was "worthwhile," and House Speaker John Boehner cast it as a "polite conversation."

Pop superstar Lady Gaga took to her Twitter page to tell followers to sign up for health care, promoting the White House's Affordable Care Act a day after the health care exchanges hit the market.FULL POST

Assertion
"The last three years since I signed the Affordable Care Act into law are the three slowest rates of health spending growth on record," President Obama, Sept. 26, Prince Georges Community College.FULL POST

(CNN) - Democrat Cory Booker's U.S. Senate campaign says raised $2.85 million in the last two months, bringing the Newark, New Jersey mayor's total to $11.5 million since January. The Booker campaign is reporting $2.63 million cash on hand.

The campaign of New Jersey Senate Republican nominee Steve Lonegan tells CNN it brought in over a million dollars during that same time period, and has $241,000 in the bank.FULL POST

CNN's GUT CHECK | for October 2, 2013 | 5 p.m.
– n. a pause to assess the state, progress or condition of the political news cycle

GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN DAY TWO…

PRESIDENTIAL MEETING:President Barack Obama will meet with congressional leaders at 5:30 p.m. ET, the first time Speaker John Boehner and the president have met face-to-face since September 3. That meeting was about Syria. Obama and Boehner last spoke on the phone Monday evening – hours before the federal government shut down. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi will also be in attendance for tonight’s meeting.

TONIGHT, ANOTHER PIECEMEAL ATTEMPT: The GOP-led House planned another round of votes on specific areas of the federal government such as veterans’ affairs and national parks despite the White House’s threat of a veto. – Tom Cohen

Washington (CNN) – The Republican National Committee is offering the United States government a check to pay for guards at the National World War II Memorial, chairman Reince Priebus announced Wednesday.

"We're willing to pay the bill," said Priebus, who was speaking to reporters as he stood in front of a fence at the memorial.FULL POST